poohbin

im thinking about gettign a 2nd hand Montague M1000 folding bike. It has 26 inch wheels so it is full size. I prefer them full size because--- i just don't feel comfortable with the smaller wheel size.

Anyone here had experience with the Montague and what did you find were your likes/dislikes about the bike? I have read some items on these forums and one ofthem says the Montague 26inch shoudl only be bought ifyou feel you must have a 26incher...

Abneycat

I've had a few rides on them, and done work on them in the shop. They're decently constructed, but in my opinion they're not that special. Mostly, you're just getting a 26 inch folder. They don't fold small at all, you also need to remove the front wheel and deal with it loose in order to fold the bike.

The older M1000 is a nice frame in steel, I prefer it over their new stuff, but no better a folder.

I don't fully understand what reasoning you would have behind distrusting the smaller wheel size, but if you are insistent on needing a larger wheeled folder, there are other 26" options that provide better overall folding. What kind of riding are you hoping to do with the bike?

If you are throwing it in the odd car boot once in a while, i'd imagine the montague to be just fine. But fold wise, they're neither small nor convenient.

poohbin

1) i think there are definitely smaller 26 inch folders (the newer montagues or the dahon 26inch?) but im hoping to get the M1000 2nd hand and cheaper.

2) riding is mainly leisure riding. so yes just throw in carboot. not sure why i would want a smaller folder with smaller wheels? do others fly with these bikes or perhaps store them at work or home? (i can store this M1000 at home i think..) As for the spare wheel, im going to chain it all up as one.

what do you guys think?

Abneycat

Yes, people want the smaller wheeled folders for flying, storing in their apartments, and a great deal of people want them for use with public transit, where space is probably most at a premium.

Small wheels are quite good on their own, being used with everything from high speed racing recumbents, to freestyle bmx. I personally own a Bike Friday Pocket Llama, and use it for everything from commuting and leisure riding, then with a quick swap of the tires it goes out cross country mountain biking! I've taken mine on trails ranging up to intermediate so far.

There aren't really any smaller 26" folders that I know of, not by any real margin. And most of the other 26" folders also have disassembly requirements, the Dahon bikes for instance require you to pop the stem off the steerer tube to fully fold the bike. At that wheelsize, they can't really be made much smaller.

Given your needs though, so long as you can get a good deal on that M1000, go for it! The frame is pretty good on those, and if you're sure that the car boot is all you'll need to fit the bike into, things should be well.